Five Panel Saliva Tests

Saliva or oral fluid tests are one of the popular drug tests that are used to find out the instant use of illegal drugs. A saliva drug test is very donor friendly, non-invasive and it’s easy to collect the specimen. Saliva drug testing is efficient at detecting very recent drug use.

A saliva test is harder to adulterate than urine drug tests since the sample can be obtained under direct supervision. Results can be read in minutes and there is no need for a lab. Depending on the test, up to 8 (but commonly 5 or 6 at a time) different drugs can be detected. This method is the best for determining current use of drugs, unlike urine testing, which doesn’t show immediate drug use but can detect use up to a month prior.

Five Panel Saliva Test

A five panel saliva test detects the five most common drugs (or drug classes) of abuse: Marijuana (THC), Cocaine, Opiates (all opium based drugs), Methamphetamine (and its derivatives), Benzodiazepines (BZD) by using the preferred lateral flow immunoassay technology for this method of test screening. At ten minutes results are visibly obtained and also the test requires no special training.

The sensitivity levels of various drugs for the saliva drug test are different. The sensitivity is measured as nanograms (ng) per milliliter (ml). The sensitivity level for Marijuana (THC) is 20ng/ml while for Cocaine (COC) and Opiates (OPI) it is 30ng/ml. The sensitivity level for Meth Amphetamine (M-AMP) and Benzodiazepines (BZD) is 50 ng/ml.

Sensitivity detection levels for saliva are considerably lower than those for urine tests because the concentrations of detectable drug metabolites are significantly less in oral saliva.

Advantages of Five Panel Saliva Test

Saliva or oral fluid drug is the best method, currently to test the immediate use of the drugs. Sample collection is less hazardous, less embarrassing for the parties. There is no need for privacy during sample collection and also less prone to corruption by sample substitution or adulteration. As the test subject is present for the entire sample collection and testing process, the possibility of sample adulteration and/or substitution is eliminated. The test utilizes monoclonal antibodies to selectively detect elevated levels of specific drugs in human oral fluid, which is very effective in drug detection.

By: Drug Alcohol Test

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